Judgement & Rewards

For an overview of passages about the afterlife, including final judgement, see Afterlife & Hell.

"Will Christians receive any kind of judgement for our actions?"
"Is there any incentive to do good works if we are saved by faith alone?"
"Will the wicked have varying degrees of punishment?"

I've compiled a list of passages which demonstrate variation in reward for the righteous and punishment for the wicked. This is not contrary to the gospel (that we are saved and receive eternal life by faith in the finished work of Christ). Though often overlooked, the idea of special rewards and punishments is important, as indicated by how often it is mentioned in scripture. God gave us a desire for incentive, which He ultimately fulfills at His own discretion. The ultimate reward is being in the presence of God and His Son. In light of this, we often dismiss the idea of special rewards. However, God tells us to pursue them. In addition, this provides a balanced understanding of works and faith as well as an answer to the three questions above that present themselves in Christian theology and discussion.

Passages

Matthew 6:19-21
"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; "but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

1 Corinthians 15:41-42
There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption.

Matthew 25:14-30 NKJV - (Parable of the talents)

Luke 19:11-27- (Parable of the minas)

2 Corinthians 5:10
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

Romans 2:5-10
But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who "will render to each one according to his deeds": eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness--indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

Revelation 22:12
And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.

1 Corinthians 3:15, 12-14
If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. ...
Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is. If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward.

Matthew 5:12
Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Matthew 10:42
And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.

Luke 14:13-14
But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind. "And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you; for you shall be repaid at the resurrection of the just.

Revelation 2-3 - In the letters to the seven churches, a specific reward is described for each church. Some of them are common rewards to all believers, while others seem like they may be unique to specific individuals (whether the churches represent physical locations, ages of time, or other divisions of believers is another subject).